In January, 1948 Robert Lane formed Superior Togs Corporation in New York City to manufacture flight jackets for the Department of Defense.

Lane decided to locate Dobbs in Knoxville, Tennessee where they were able to lease factory space from Levi Strauss & Co. and acquire labor and supplies from the Wynn Industries Group.

In response Gelber approached the Wynn Industries Group and established his own company to continue flight jacket contracts for the U.S. military.

In 1961 John Niethammer was hired by one of the Wynn Group's subsidiaries to develop quality controls plans to meet Government standards.

Following a decision in 2000 to separate the commercial and government sides of the business John purchased the main Knoxville manufacturing plants from Alpha Industries and began Valley Apparel L.L.C., aimed specifically at fulfilling DoD contracts.